Display refrigerator



July 23, 1935. F. R. ERBACH DISPLAY REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l "u lll mlllll,

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I N VEN TOR.

H c m a. i a .m a a w a F Adam I ATTORNEY.

Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES DISPLAY REFRIGERATOR Frederick R. Erbach, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 8, 1931, Serial No. 555,954

4 Claims. (01. 62-895) This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus and particularly to refrigeration apparatus for preserving frozen food products at a relatively low temperature.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator for the display and storage of food products which is relatively simple in construction and which can be manufactured to sell in large quantities at a low cost. Such a refrigerator, in order to render eflicient service, must be capable of maintaining a temperature much lower than that maintained in ordinary display and storage cabinets, and such temperature must be substantially uniform throughout the entire extent of both the storage and display sections thereof. It is also desired that such refrigerator be so constructed that both the storage and display compartments thereof will be communicating and both accessible from a single door, thus providing a structure in which air will be free to circulate between the compartments and from which food products may be removed without the customary inconvenience of opening different doors.

The invention comprises generally an insulated compartment formed with an open upper portion and an interior in which refrigerating apparatus is located around the walls thereof. The upper portion of this cabinet is normally covered by a 30 removable top along the front of which is inserted a sloping glass window section, and behind which is provided a door-covered opening. A shelf located just beneath the glass window provides a support on which food products may be both displayed and refrigerated while the remainder of the cabinet is available for food storage purposes. Both the display section of the cabinet above the aforesaid shelf and the storage compartment comprising the remainder of the cabinet are accessible through the door previously mentioned.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may now be had to the accompanying specification and drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a refrigerated food storage and display cabinet, portions of which are broken away and illustrated in cross section to more clearly disclose the constructional features thereof;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the cabinet illustrated by Figure 1 and taken substantially along line 2-2 thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a refrigerated display and storage cabinet embracing a slightly different form of display portion of the cabinet as compared with that disclosed by Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of another form of refrigerated display and storage cabinet embracing the principles of the 6 invention and in which a display compartment is located above the machine compartment of a 1 conventional refrigerated ice-cream cabinet.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, a so-called self-contained refrigeration unit ll comprises an 10 insulated refrigerating storage and display cabinet l2 and a refrigerating machine compartment [3. The latter has suspended therein by springs M, a relatively conventional condensing unit I6, consisting of a compressor, II, driven by a motor I8, 15 through a combination belt and pulley unit IS.

A fan 2|, also driven by the motor l8 discharges a blast of air upon a refrigerant condenser 22 in which liquid refrigerant accumulates and is discharged into a liquid refrigerant receiver 23. 20 Compressed refrigerant vapor is supplied to the condenser 22 from the high side of compressor I! through a conduit not shown and vaporized refrigerant at. 'a relatively low pressure is exhausted from an evaporating conduit 24 in the 25 interior of the insulated cabinet l2 through a similar conduit, not shown. Liquid refrigerant is supplied during the cyclical operation of the condensing unit l6 through an automatic expansion valve or other suitable metering device, not shown, to a suitable portion of the evaporating conduit 24, heretofore referred to.

The machine compartment I3 is provided with an upper fiat wall or cover 26 which is adaptable for employment as a wrapping counter, if desired. While the present embodiment of the invention, the machine compartment l3 and the heat insulated cabinet [2 are secured together as an integral unit, it is to be observed that this form of construction is merely illustrative and the entire machine compartment and condensing unit can be located elsewhere, if desired.

Cabinet l2 comprises a plurality of heat insulated walls 21 put together in such relation as to form side walls 28 and bottom wall 29 of a refrigerating compartment 3|. Located within this compartment and spaced from side walls 28 in .such manner as to provide an aperture there between is a sheet metal casing 32, around which the refrigerant evaporating conduit 24, hereinbefore 5 mentioned, is wound. The space surrounding the conduit and between the side walls of the casin 32 and the insulating side walls 28 is filled with a concrete or other suitable material 33, which is employed for the purpose of maintaining the elements of the cabinet in rigid relation and in addition, for conducting heat from both the interior and exterior of the cabinet to the refrigerant evaporating conduit 24.

A plurality of sheet metal or other suitable panels 34 are employed both in the formation of the machine compartment i3 and in covering the heat insulated Walls 2'! of the cabinet I2. Sufiicient rigidity is provided in the entire structure by the employment of a metallic frame 36 consisting of angle bars 31 so located within the structure as to accomplish this purpose.

The upper edges of the insulating side walls 28 are covered by a frame 38 of a rectangular formation, which is secured to the walls by screws or other suitable means, not shown. A flange sleeve 39 is secured to the inner edges of the frame 38 and bridges the gap between the latter and the upper extremity rof the casing 32. A shelf 4|, adapted for supporting food products to be displayed, is located and supported in any suitable means, not shown, along one side of the refrigerating compartment 3|, adjacent the upperextremity of the casing 32.

This shelf in the present embodiment of the invention, comprises a metallic plate 42 with downwardly turned edges 43, beneath which a section 43 of the evaporating conduit 24 is located. Such section is confined beneath the shelf within a slab of concrete, asphalt or other suitable material which extends within the downwardly turned edges 43. On the upper surface of the frame 38 is located a pair of spaced rubber gaskets 44 on which is supported a removable top or cover 46 for the cabinet I 2. This cover comprises a pair of spaced end members 4'! of triangular formation, which are located directly above the opposite end extremities of the cabinet I2. Between these end members is secured a pair of longitudinal side frame members 48 and 49, and a centrally disposed frame member 5|. The outer surface of the frame members of the removable cover 46 is enclosed by sheet metal panels 52, having flanged edges 53 projecting downwardly into openings .54 and 56, formed between the aforementioned frame elements of the cover.

The opening 54 adjacent the front of the cabinet I2, is provided with a plurality of space plates of glass 59, which form a window through which the shelf 42 is visible. The opening 56 adjacent the rear of the cabinet I2 is provided with a swinging door 59, hinged along the upper edge thereof, as indicated at El, to permit the opening thereof by an attendant, by an upward movement of the adjacent edge thereof.

When the door is so opened, it is apparent that the attendant may reach through the opening either into the display section above the shelf 42 or into the storage section within the casing 32. Under ordinary circumstances, the casing 32 will be kept almost entirely filled with food products in packages closely packed together, thus preventing circulation in the compartment except in the upper region thereof. Packaged food products located on the shelf 42 for the purpose of being displayed through the window 58 will be cooled by direct conduction of heat from the packages to the section 43 of the evaporating conduit 24. Such portions of the cabinet as are not filled with packaged products will be cooled by circulation of air internally in the cabinet and the heat will be absorbed therefrom either by the upper portion of the evaporating conduit 24 or by the section 43 thereof, associated with the shelf 42.

Figures 3 and 4 disclose refrigerating apparatus somewhat similar in general features of construction to that disclosed by Figures 1 and 2, heretofore described in detail. In order therefore, to avoid repetition, the reference numerals employed in the description of Figures 1 and 2 are applied to corresponding elements of the structure disclosed by Figures 3 and 4.

In the structure disclosed by Figure 3, the upper front edge of the casing 32 is provided with an inwardly projecting horizontally disposed extension 63, the inner edge of which is turned upwardly, as indicated at 64, thus providing a side wall of limited height therefor.

Evaporating conduit 24 after being spirally wound around the casing 32 is then bent back and forth in sinuous formation along the upper surface of extension 63 to provide a shelf cooling section 43. When concrete or other suitable material 33 is poured into the space between the casing 32 and the side walls 28, the sinuous section 43 also may be covered. The sheet metal shelf 42 is then disposed upon the upper portion of the conduit section 43 and may be removed from the cabinet if desired, for the purpose of being cleaned.

The front edge of the shelf 42 is adapted to project beyond the extremity of the conduit section 43 and to cover the inner edge of the frame 38 secured to the upper edges of the side wall 28. The frame member 49 adjacent the front edge of the removable cover 46 is disposed outwardly in such manner as to overhang front wall 28 of the cabinet, thus permitting a more complete view of the shelf 42 and the products displayed thereon.

A piece of insulating material 66 of triangular cross sectional formation is located beneath the frame 49 in such manner as to prevent rapid flow of heat into the interior of the cabinet and to give the front portion thereof a more finished appearance.

In the structure disclosed by Figure 4 the upper wall or cover of the cabinet I2 is not illustrated as being removable, as the covers embraced in the cabinets illustrated by Figure 1, 2 and 3 are, although such cover may be so constructed if desired.

As illustrated, it consists of a frame 61 in which a plurality of openings 68, 69 and 'II are formed, the openings 68 and 69 being closed by removable lids I2 and I3, while the opening II is closed by a plurality of spaced plates of glass 14. The machine compartment I3 above which the opening I I is located terminates in a region somewhat below the plates of glass 14 and is covered by a slab of heat insulating material I5, forming a bottom for a display compartment 11. The space between the edges of the slab I6 and the frame member 61 is filled on three sides by slabs of heat insulating material I8.

Slab 16 supports evaporating conduit section 43, similar to that employed in structures I, 2 and 3, and the space between the convolutions thereof is likewise filled with concrete material 33. Shelf 42 disposed above the concrete section 43 is adapted to support food products to be displayed through the opening I I and is accessible through the opening 59 upon removing the lid 13.

While it is necessary for the purpose of illustration to describe the several disclosed forms of the invention in detail, it is apparent that the invention is not so limited, but that other forms and applications thereof are embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A refrigerated storage and display cabinet having storage and display compartments divided by a shelf and heat absorbing means for refrigerating said compartments comprising a spiral section wound around said storage compartment and a sinuous section associated with said shelf for absorbing heat from either side thereof.

2. A refrigerated storage and display cabinet having storage and display compartments divided by a shelf, heat absorbing means for refrigerating said compartments comprising an expansion conduit surrounding said storage compartment and an expansion conduit embedded in said shelf, the top wall of said cabinet including'a transparent portion through which said shelf is visible and an opening adjacent the inwardly extending end of said shelf through which said compartments are accessible, and movable closure means for said opening.

3. A refrigerator for storing and dispensing refrigerated products comprising a heat insulated cabinet having the storage compartment and a display compartment in open communication with each other, refrigerant expansion means embedded in walls of the cabinet for cooling the contents of the storage compartment by convection and the contents of the display compartment by conduction, and a door for the cabinet through which said display and storage compartments are accessible.

4. A refrigerated storage and display cabinet of substantially rectangular formation having a storage compartment restricted along one dimen-' sion of the cabinet, heat absorbing means for refrigerating said compartment, a refrigerated display shelf horizontally disposed adjacent the upper edge of the restricted side of the storage compartment and cooperating with walls of the cabinet to provide adisplay compartment above and at one side of the storage compartment, transparent means in the cabinet for exposing the shelf, removable closure means for affording access to both of the compartments, and a refrigerant condensing element positioned below said refrigerated shelf for supplying refrigerant to said heat ab- I sorbing means and said refrigerated shelf.

FREDERICK R. ERBACH. 

